"Gov. Jodi Rell's approval remains sky high, even in the wake of her income tax
hike proposal. You can call her 'Teflon Jodi.' She has never dipped below 70 percent
approval," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.

"Voters support the Governor's call for more spending on education. They just don't
agree with her plan to pay for it by hiking the income tax. Interestingly, she gets more
support for her income tax hike from Democrats than her own Republican Party members."

"But Connecticut Republicans, Democrats, and independents all support Rell's
proposal to increase the tax on cigarettes, with the statewide tally at 71 - 25 percent," Dr.
Schwartz added.

By a 79 - 12 percent margin, voters do not believe Rell's argument that increased
state education spending will result in lower property taxes. On other tax questions:

Voters oppose 50 - 44 percent hiking state income taxes on just the wealthy to pay
for increased education spending;

Voters support 68 - 26 percent eliminating the local property tax on cars;

Voters support 48 - 42 percent eliminating the local property tax credit on the state
income tax to pay for the elimination of the car tax.

Connecticut voters are mixed on the issue of civil unions and gay marriage:

39 percent say gays should be allowed to legally marry;

33 percent say gays should be allowed to form civil unions, but not marry;

22 percent say there should be no legal recognition of a same-sex union.

"On the same-sex marriage issue, there is a big difference by age. The older people are,
the more opposed they are to same-sex marriage," Schwartz said.

Voters support 76 - 17 percent Rell's proposal to have insurance companies provide health
insurance to Connecticut residents for $250 per month, with the state helping to pay the premium
for those who can't afford it. Support is strong among all parties and in all areas of the state.

But voters say 53 - 31 percent that the state should do more to help the uninsured.

From February 9 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,087 Connecticut registered
voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for
research.
For more data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or call (203) 582-5201.

32. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jodi Rell is handling her job
as Governor?

42. Governor Rell has proposed raising the state income tax to help pay for
this increase in education spending. Do you support or oppose raising the
state income tax to help pay for this increase in education spending?

43. Instead of Governor Rell's across the board tax increase, do you think
the state should increase the income tax just on the wealthy to pay for this
increase in education spending?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 44% 26% 58% 42% 40% 47%
No 50 69 36 51 55 45
DK/NA 7 5 6 7 5 8

MdlSex Toll,Wndm
Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon

Yes 44% 40% 46% 46% 43%
No 49 53 44 47 54
DK/NA 7 7 10 7 3

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME......
<30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Yes 53% 52% 40% 36%
No 37 43 56 57
DK/NA 10 6 4 6

44. Governor Rell has said that this increase in state education spending
should help towns and cities lower local property taxes. Do you think your
local property taxes will drop as a result of this increase in education
spending?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 12% 9% 12% 13% 11% 13%
No 79 86 77 79 81 77
DK/NA 9 4 11 8 8 10

MdlSex Toll,Wndm
Fairfld Hrtford Ltchfld NewHvn NewLon

Yes 14% 10% 5% 14% 10%
No 78 78 91 78 80
DK/NA 8 12 4 9 11

45. Governor Rell has proposed raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes 49
cents to help meet state needs. Do you support or oppose this proposal?

46. Currently, estates valued at more than 2 million dollars are subject to
Connecticut's estate tax. Governor Rell has proposed phasing out the estate
tax over 5 years. Do you support or oppose Governor Rell's plan to phase out
the estate tax?

48. To help pay for the elimination of the car tax, Governor Rell wants to
phase out the local property tax credit on the state income tax for everyone
but senior citizens. Do you support or oppose eliminating the local property
tax credit?

49. Governor Rell has proposed having health insurance companies offer a
comprehensive policy to those who are uninsured for 250 dollars a month in
premiums. For those who couldn't afford that amount, the state would help
out. Do you support or oppose this proposal?

51. Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry,
should be allowed legally to form civil unions, but not marry, or
should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships?